Make-up Talk

Like the costumes, the methods of make-ups were kept to few and were as simple as their attire. However, one notable exception was perhaps the attention that was paid to eye care.

Indian literature speak volumes of the hypnotic gaze of the Indian woman in whose eyes a thousand expressions glimmer and disappear in a moment’s time. Simple their lifestyle though eye makeup was very much in fashion. The trend was to darken eyes thickly with “Kanmashi” (Kajal).

Njorinjudukkal (Wearing with a Njori)

In earlier times, especially for women’s attire, there was a prevailing custom of sticking to white color which symbolized greatest modesty. But the women were not entirely unmindful to the aspects of beauty in their dressings, altogether.

One could find that the “njori” or folding the dress’s one end in a fan-like arrangement was most common, especially in womens’ dressings, obviously meant as an adornment. The arrangement is commonly called the “njori” (fold, pleat) and could be found in the dress styles of all our communities.

(Photo courtesy Helen Cannon-Brookes who kindly consented to use this image)